Starting Chemo February 2009?

your hair looks great WEBBIE - and yes the femara is absolutely horrid.  i am taking pain meds regularly and will discuss them with my onc in a few weeks. however, it's really quite tolerable... i still am less than 1/2 the daily limit but i am not enthused about taking them regularly.. they sure help.

my hair looks about like that - longer and thinner.  i just finished my chemo July 5th so i expect it to start thickening any day or week now.  the femara made some of the longer hairs come out but others are coming in..  very exciting.  i wish i had the nerve to bleach my hair totally white and let it grow out black.. i think that looks so cool.

i'm preparing a birthday party for 20 - the girlchild's 10th.. - dinner and badminton  and STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE - the baked NY kind with grated lemon and orange peel and tons of strawberries.. yum.. i'm not eating anything all day so i can have a huge piece.

i'll post a photo later (of the cheesecake.. and maybe my baby's blond hair (she kind of did it herself))

Hi Everyone -  More than 1/2 way done rads.  10 left.
 

Kerry - I just saw the psychologist once so far.  I did like one comment that he said that did make the trip worth while.  I vented about people saying that I looked great and that the comments actually made me angry and emotional.  He told me that he has had a number of patients that have actually broken down in his office about that issue.  People mean well but I have found it offensive.  I know what I see when I look in the mirror.  He actually said that most people feel how I do.   I was wondering where you are going to be in Canada.  I am going to the Lake of the Woods (near Kenora) the weekend of August 14th.  Hope you are getting stronger every day.  

Webbie - Love your hair & you have the most beautiful smile!  I am getting eyebrows this week & pretty excited about it.  

Jamie - Sorry for the poor care and lack of that you rec'd in the hospitol.  I was the victim of waiting for an hour for pain meds after my bilateral masta/reconst in December.   Extremely frustrating. 

 Judy & Cheryl - So happy that you 2 were able to meet up.   Friendships are treasures.

re - best things people have done for me - A friend of mine (who is married to a minister) came to my house and prayed for me in my home.  Also, people putting me on their personal prayer list and on their church prayer list.  The power of prayer!  

 Happy Healthy weekends to everyone.

I am home sitting, sleeping on the couch trying to get better.  My incisions still cause the least amount of pain.  The gas has only left a little bit and the cath. can't be removed until tomorrow morning so it's a pain.  The best part is I get to remove it.  I swear this is the same hospital that I have gotten all my care at but this care has been insane.  They completely lack an sympathy and the don't seem to listen to their patients. 

Alright I got to get off before I start my rants again...

Jaimie - hope you are feeling better soon. Rest up, let everyone wait on you for a bit. Glad the pain isn't too bad, I think I still have a bit of gas floating around two weeks later.

You have to remove your own cathetha? Are they mad? Is there a home care nurse that could come and do it? We have them here in Canada, one came every day after my Mx to check my wound, she removed my drains as well....

We had a garage sale yesterday, it went really well, got rid of a load of stuff. And made about 200 bucks, which is a bonus. Have a great day everyone!!

Hey Judy, it is supposed to get really hot here today too. Right now it is raining. I am looking through old photos (it is my Parent-In-laws 50th wedding ann. in Oct, we are doing a scrapbook for them) It is taking me ages, as I keep finding all sorts of lovely photos of the kids when they were babies, my hubby and I on vacation before kids, you know, loads of memories. Anyhow,m hope you have a productive day mosiacing. Pity you live so far away, you could come to our meet-up too! You are practically Canadian!

Cath. is out.  Luckily my lovely sister is a labor and delivery nurse and when she heard that I was cutting the cath. she told me she would help me.  So she came over and I got it out.  Ewweee, yucky feeling....  I also peed (I know the things I tell you ladies) and I was fine until it was time to stop the flow.   Oweeeee. 

Also to add to my hotness (meaning sexy) my incision on my right side busted open again.  I got a call into the PS office.  I took a shower today and my DH said you look like you have been shot.  I have 6 holes so much for 3-4 holes. 

I go tomorrow for herceptin, Wed or Thur. to the oncologist office and one day this week to follow up with Edward Scissor hands.  I can't control my excitement. 

Ha! I have the oral surgeon Monday (where I beg to put it off again!), the breast surgeon Wed, and Avastin + an onc visit Thurs.  Yep, I have no life.

Jaimie~  I hope you are feeling better soon.   ouch...

Interesting that everyone has just commented about Dr. appts.  The last few days they have been driving me crazy.  At least when I finish rads in 2 weeks, it will seem less hectic.  I have to cancel my psychologist appt and won't be able to attend my uncle's funeral due to Dr. appts.  What is a social life?  I am so planning one after the appts slow down.  I want to go zip lining when rads are done!  It looks like summer weather is finally coming this week in Manitoba.

Bev - I have always wanted to go zip lining too! Do you go somewhere close to you? When are you off to Kenora? My husband and I canoed in Quetico many years ago, it was just fabulous.

Massive thunderstorm here last night, everything still a bit drippy this morning. Had my first walk since my surgery this morning, and feel great. Sticky though, the humidity is really bad.

Had a lovely afternoon yesterday meeting some of the Toronto area BC.org girls. I wish we all lived closer and could meet up too, it would be one fun reunion! 

Well, I need to shower to get ready for my date with my Breast Surgeon. I had my husband feel me all over yesterday for lumps, I don't want any suprises. Really nervous. Do you think they will get any easier, these doctor visits??

Anyhow, hope you all have a great day. 

Hi guys. Wow, lots of doc appts going on.....I can't decide if I should feel guilty or worried that I have no appts until Nov.....honestly, since we ended chemo, I've seen my onc once, and that's it. 

I went to the pool party at my sister's house yesterday....forgot to bring my extra 'swim' scarf, so decided the heck with it, and went topless.  This was hard because it was the first time in front of my family (sisters and dad)....my sisters loved my hair, but my dad had a hard time looking at me at first....I knew it would be hard for him, I've always been his little girl with the long blonde hair....

anyway, when I went out to the pool, my BIL and friend Mark were the only 2 out there, so I opened the door, stepped out and said "hey, can I join the thinning hair club?".....but then I got all teary as I explained that I haven't been out 'topless' but once.....that blew my casual, I'm-cool-with-this facade!

 Kerry:  It used to be so much easier to go into Canada....I used to go quite often, it is only about a 30 min. drive to the bridge (I won't do that tunnel, creeps me out)!  My breast surgeon didn't want to see me again for a year.....not even sure why I need to see her again anyway....I had a bi-lat, what would be the purpose of the visit at this point?  I have enough docs that poke and feel my chest area, I don't need one more, lol!

Jaimie:  So glad you had someone to help you with the cath....you poor thing, you've been through so much lately....what are the 'holes' from, and why do you have so many?  I worry you could get an infection,  so I hope your docs can get those healed up soon.

Apple:  I'm so tired of shaving my legs already, lol, boy when the body hair comes back, it comes back with a vengence!

Another hot day today....all week actually....thank god for AC!

Judy - I remember when I was first landed here in Canada, we drove down to Buffallo just so as I could leave the country! (I wasn't allowed to leave for the 18mths my application was being processed) Anyhow, they asked my status, I said "Landed" and they just waved us through. Didn't even look at any documentation. Now you need a passport, it is crazy.

Kerry~ It's callede humidity in the US.  Whooo for everything looking great !!!  I am thrilled. 

Bev~ Whoo for eyebrows and eyelashes. 

Judy~ My holes are from the machine they use davinci to get inside to my kidneys so they could fix them. 

Bad news from me in regards to my implant   It looks like I may loose one of my new girls if not 2   I am sad and angry about it because talking to the new doctor today the NP who squeezed it caused it to possible be infected and cause the issues.  I am making a last ditch effort with silvadine cream in hopes that my body will decide to heal the hole.  The good new at least it doesn't appear to be the beast. 

Options are: 1. clean it out and put a smaller implant in 2. clean it out and put expander back in and the last to take it out and let it heal.  The one thing that the doctor said that I didn't like at all was oh it will not be a big deal you can go to the boutique and get a cami and get a prostestic until you can have another one put in.  I am floored and really am hoping that I do not have to use any of these options. 

Oh Apple your momma sounds like a dear.  I am glad you are getting to spend time with you even if it's for a funneral . 

here's a hair update:

I packed up my scarves yesterday.  Some to keep (because I'm afraid to give them away... ugggh) and some to donate.  I cried... I'm such a nutcase....

Hey Apple,

What part of South Dakota are you going to be in on Friday?

Michele, so jealose of the hair....looks great!  I actually just bought a few more scarves last week end, but these can work with my outfits too...so I'm keeping them.

Yah, Bethie for almost being done with Rads.  I am at the half way point today and can't wait to be done.

Jaimie so sorry to hear about your new girls--here's hoping to healing!